Stephen Fry to revisit BBC1 depression doc

The Not So Secret Life of the Manic Depressive: 10 Years On examines Fry’s experience of living with manic depression, as well as looking at how a range of sufferers are coping with the condition.

It will be produced by Scottish indie Matchlight and Fry’s production outfit Sprout Pictures, with the former’s creative director Ross Wilson directing. Wilson directed The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive 10 years ago through IWC Media.

Moore, who executive produced the original film for BBC1, said: “10 years on since Stephen Fry’s Emmy award-winning film about manic depression, it now feels like the right time to bring this important subject to a mainstream audience on BBC1.

“To find out what has changed, what progress has been made and what the future holds for people living with mental health conditions in the UK.  Over the last decade, we’ve broken down taboos and medical advances mean we have a greater understanding of the brain than ever before, but we’re not there yet.  There is still so much more that needs to be done.”

The Not So Secret Life of the Manic Depressive: 10 Years On is executive produced by Jane Merkin and Gina Carter with Wilson directing.

Matchlight and Sprout Pictures are also behind a second documentary, My Baby, Psychosis and Me, which will deal with postpartum psychosis – a serious condition that is triggered by childbirth.

Filmed over six months, it will closely follow the experiences of two women, Jenny and Hannah, and their families, as they are cared for at Winchester’s Mother and Baby Unit.

It is executive produced by Wilson, Merkin and Carter and directed by Rebecca Burrell. Both films were commissioned by BBC documentaries commissioning editor by Clare Paterson.

Alongside this, EastEnders has been working with Mind, Bipolar UK and other experts in the field to highlight postpartum psychosis in an ongoing storyline. As part of the season Lacey Turner’s character Stacey Branning’s story will intensify and viewers will see her make a life changing decision.

BBC1’s season will include further mental health stories and items across a range of BBC programming including BBC Breakfast, Victoria Derbyshire, Newsbeat and BBC Radio 5 Live, while BBC online news will have a special report page dedicated to mental health.

BBC News director James Harding said: “This is a moment when we stop and reflect on one of the big issues of our time, one that touches all of us. We will report and examine – with all the BBC’s expertise, insight and understanding – on what’s really happening in mental health. ”